Feral Bonds: Claimed By Rogue Alpha Brothers

Evaline:

My first night in the Thorne mansion was… peaceful. Almost unnervingly so.

After dinner, I returned to my room. Yet, when Oscar and Draven both insisted on staying with me, hovering around my room like stubborn shadows, I surprised them, and myself, by saying no.

"No, I want to be alone tonight," I had told them quietly. My voice hadn't wavered, though my heart had thumped hard in my chest.

The look on their faces was almost comical. Oscar's sharp jaw had clenched as if I had just denied him air itself, while Draven's eyes darkened with something that was neither unhappiness nor disappointment, but a mix of both. Still, they respected my decision, even if they walked away grumpy and muttering under their breaths like sulking children.

And after making their nights lonely and quite miserable, I slept peacefully.

Really slept.

When I blinked awake the next morning, the soft golden light slanting through the curtains told me I had overslept badly. My body felt like it had been submerged in some healing lake, all fatigue drained from me. A glance at the clock confirmed it - I had slept nearly eleven hours. Eleven! It was the longest I had slept in... forever probably.

I stretched lazily, almost catlike, before rolling out of bed. I was filled with energy after such a good and long sleep.

After a long shower, I pulled on a soft sweater and jeans. I brushed my hair quickly before tying it into a messy ponytail. My stomach growled the moment I stepped out of my room. Following the faint sound of voices downstairs, I padded toward the living room.

That was where I found him.

Draven was lounging on the couch, one long leg crossed over the other, and a phone pressed against his ear. He was smiling faintly, speaking in a low tone to whoever was on the other end. Probably one of his friends. His black hair caught the light, causing the blue hue in them to stand out. Strands were falling across his forehead in that perfectly careless way he always seemed to manage.

The moment his eyes lifted and met mine, his smile widened. And just like that, the call ended. He slipped the phone into his pocket and rose to his feet.

"Good morning," I greeted softly.

He crossed the space between us in three easy strides and bent down, brushing a kiss against my forehead. The touch was feather-light, yet it left warmth blooming through my skin. "Good morning, Eva," he murmured.

"You must be hungry," he added, his voice carrying the certainty of someone who knew me better than I knew myself. Before I could even answer, he was already summoning Sera, instructing her to set the breakfast table. But instead of sending her toward the dining hall as usual, he glanced back at me with a mischievous spark in his eyes.

"Not inside. Set the table in the front garden."

I blinked, my brow furrowing. "The… garden?"

He chuckled when he saw my puzzled look. "It's a rare sunny morning," he explained, his hand brushing lightly against the small of my back as he guided me toward the door. "Perfect for sitting outside, don't you think? You'll see."

When we stepped outside, I did see.

The winter air was crisp, but the sunlight was pouring down generously, painting the grass and bare trees in warm hues. My lips parted in a small, unbidden smile as I tilted my face up to the sky. In these freezing months, such mornings were nothing short of a blessing.

"I love it," I admitted softly.

Within minutes, the servants set up a small round table, laying it with steaming plates of fresh food. Two chairs faced each other, and Draven pulled one out for me before taking his own.

He didn't eat much himself, only sipped on his coffee, but he made sure I ate properly, nudging dishes closer. The food was delicious as usual.

As we talked, I learned that Oscar left early for the Academy, while River had gone to the office. "He came back late last night," Draven explained when I mentioned not seeing River at all yesterday. "He was visiting one of the packs."

I nodded, though part of me felt a little guilty. I had gone to bed so early, without even waiting to see him. But before guilt could take root, Draven changed the subject.

"Do you have any plans for today?" he asked, his emerald eyes holding mine.

I shook my head. "No. None."

"Good." His lips curved in satisfaction. "Then, would you like to join me and some of my close friends? We are going to spend the day in a neighboring town."

I blinked, caught off guard. "Your… friends?"

The idea startled me. I knew of them vaguely, having seen him surrounded by people at the Academy sometimes, but I had never spoken to them, never even caught their names. My stomach twisted nervously. How was he going to introduce me? As his mate? As… what?

He must have read the uncertainty on my face because he reached across the table, his hand covering mine. The warmth of his palm was grounding.

"Don't worry," he said firmly. "I would never let you get close to people who weren't worthy of you. My friends are good people. You'll like them." His thumb brushed over my knuckles gently, coaxing me to relax. "Besides… they have been pestering me nonstop ever since they noticed I was with someone. I think it's time I introduce you."

His eagerness softened the edge of my hesitation. He truly wanted me to meet them. And if he, with all his sharp instincts, trusted them… then maybe I could, too.

I let out a slow breath and nodded. "Alright."

His answering smile was radiant. "You won't regret it."

Once breakfast was done, we headed back inside, and soon after, slipped into Draven's sleek black car. The engine purred to life, and before long, we were on the road, the mansion fading behind us.

The drive was smooth, the world outside shifting from the snowy outskirts of the rogue pack lands to the bustling edges of another town. The name rolled off Draven's tongue casually as we neared it - Halewick.

Halewick town was different from the Academy's polished grounds and even from the nearby towns. It had a vibrant, slightly chaotic energy. Lively shops lined the streets, laughter spilling out of cafés, while the faint scent of roasted chestnuts hung in the air.

Draven parked the car in a lot near the center of town, then reached across to unbuckle my seatbelt for me before I could do it myself. His hand lingered a moment longer than necessary, his eyes locking with mine. "Ready?"

I swallowed hard but managed a small nod.

Together, we walked down the busy street until we reached a large building with colorful signs and flashing lights - an Arcade.

Inside, the cheerful hum of laughter, clinking tokens, and game machines buzzed around us. And there, near the back, four people were waiting for us.